Tweet
[HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Tim Stewart (12.168.192.---)
Date: 12-09-02 04:31
Copyright 2002 The Press Enterprise Co.
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE (RIVERSIDE, CA.)
December 6, 2002, Friday
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. C01
LENGTH: 520 words
HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer
BYLINE: ANDREW BAGGARLY; THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
BODY:
The mother of basketball player Will Kimble said Pepperdine
officials were aware of evidence her son had a pre-existing
heart condition before the junior center collapsed and lost
consciousness during practice Nov. 26.
Following the incident, Kimble was diagnosed with hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy, a life-threatening condition that involves an
abnormal growth of the heart muscle.
His mother, Dr. Irene Donley-Kimble, said her son had never
suffered chest pains, shortness of breath, or any other signs of
heart problems. The only hint of a potentially serious ailment
came more than two years ago, when a heart murmur was detected
in a routine physical exam administered to Kimble upon his
enrollment at Pepperdine. Additional tests, including a stress
echocardiogram, came back normal and Kimble was cleared to play.
Last week, a stress echocardiogram revealed the condition, which
often has no advance warning signs and has resulted in the
sudden fatality of young athletes.
"We're still reeling from the shock," said Donley-Kimble. "The
diagnosis was totally unexpected. We'll get another opinion and
go from there. We're not going to count out basketball
altogether at this time."
Donley-Kimble, said her son would undergo tests Wednesday at
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Kimble, a graduate of San Bernardino Pacific High School, had
told Pepperdine officials and teammates that he did not intend
to play basketball again. But Donley-Kimble said the family was
holding out hope the diagnosis might change, and that her son
might be able to return to the court.
"The same test came back clean two years ago," she said. "There
was no reason then to think it was a serious problem. . . . The
heart is like any other muscle -- it gets bigger when you work
it. William was working excessively hard. It's difficult to say
how much extra heart tissue had built up. That's why it's
important to get another opinion."
If the second opinion confirms the original diagnosis,
Donley-Kimble said that her son would "understand what that
means" and would give up basketball.
Pepperdine athletic director Dr. John Watson said the university
would object if Kimble lobbied to return to the team and play
with the condition.
"It would be my responsibility not to allow that to happen,"
Watson said. "If there is evidence that the diagnosis is incorrect,
we will take a thorough look at it. But if it's correct, he will
not play basketball for this university. We will not put him in
harm's way."
Watson said the school intends to honor its four-year
scholarship commitment to Kimble, a bright student who is making
progress toward a degree in advertising.
"Obviously, his career goals have changed drastically," Watson
said. "We talked to him about our support and how we want to keep
him in school and see him through to his degree."
Kimble's basketball career was beginning to emerge. He won the
starting center position after two years in a reserve role, and
was expected to make an impact with his rebounding and
shot-blocking abilities.
LOAD-DATE: December 6, 2002
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Sarah B. Board Moderator (12.144.99.---)
Date: 12-09-02 06:45
It sounds like his parents are pushing for playing and he is not. Just my read on this one. Hopefully his mom will back off ----hey, Lisa, can you send her the packet?
S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Reenie Smith (---.snbrca.adelphia.net)
Date: 12-09-02 07:42
Sarah,
I live near these guys and looked the phone # up in the book. His mom is an MD. I was thinking about calling them to suggest they see someone Lisa recommended to me for my husband, but now I'm not sure if I should or not. What do you think?
Reenie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Sarah B. Board Moderator (12.144.99.---)
Date: 12-09-02 08:06
Dear Reenie,
I would call Lisa and see what she suggests. Tough call on this one, but I think reaching out is a good idea.
S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Allen Bates (---.motorola.com)
Date: 12-09-02 11:48
I just wrote an email to Paul Westphal, Pepperdine coach, and gave him the hcma website to pass on to Will and the family
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Sarah B. Board Moderator (12.144.99.---)
Date: 12-09-02 12:11
Thanks, Allen, that was a great idea.
S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[HEADLINE: To Play, or Not]
Author: Tim Stewart (12.168.192.---)
Date: 12-10-02 04:16
Copyright 2002 The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times
All Rights Reserved
Los Angeles Times
December 10, 2002 Tuesday Home Edition
SECTION: Sports; Part 4; Page 1; Sports Desk
LENGTH: 1326 words
HEADLINE: To Play, or Not;
Pepperdine calls Kimble's condition career-ending, butathlete isn't so sure
BYLINE: Rob Fernas, Times Staff Writer
BODY:
Will Kimble says he's praying for a miracle, and that's what it might take
for the Pepperdine junior to play college basketball again.
Kimble was the starting center for the Waves until he passed out at practice
Nov. 26 and was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition
that can cause sudden death. Kimble and his family are hoping the diagnosis was
incorrect and have scheduled an evaluation by another cardiologist this week.
Pepperdine coaches hope Kimble will be cleared to rejoin the team, which has
struggled without the low-post presence of the 6-foot-10, 230-pounder.
But the university is adhering to a more conservative stance, releasing a
statement that Kimble has a "career-ending" condition. Though Kimble reportedly
approved the release, he indicated he isn't ready to call it a career at age 20.
"I'm real optimistic," he said of his chances of playing again. "It's just a
gut feeling."
John Watson, Pepperdine athletic director, said the medical evidence would
have to be conclusive for the school to allow Kimble back on the court.
"If it turns out that this initial diagnosis was incorrect -- invalidated --
then obviously we'll review everything," Watson said. "But based on what we've
been told with the preliminary diagnosis, this is the prudent action for Will.
"We do not want to put him in harm's way, nor do we want a young person's
enthusiasm to place him in danger."
Watson's caution is understandable. He was at Loyola Marymount's Gersten
Pavilion the night of March 4, 1990, when Loyola's Hank Gathers collapsed during
a basketball game and later died of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart.
Boston Celtic star Reggie Lewis died of the same condition.
Loyola's insurance carriers eventually paid a settlement of $1.4 million to
Gathers' family.
Another $1 million was paid on behalf of Vernon Hattori, the cardiologist who
had treated Gathers for his heart condition and cleared him to play.
Watson acknowledged that Kimble's situation reminds him of Gathers', but said
that has not influenced the way Pepperdine is handling the matter.
"It's in my mind, but it's not the overriding concern," Watson said. "Nor is
the liability issue an overriding concern. It's what's right for Will Kimble."
And if Kimble receives a second medical opinion that contradicts the initial
diagnosis, clearing him to play?
"I'm not sure how we would resolve it, other than having long discussions
with the family and with Will," Watson said.
"We're not talking about a kid who might feel pain with an arthritic knee the
rest of his life. We're talking about life and death as a potential."
Kimble -- no relation to Bo Kimble, Gathers' high-profile teammate at Loyola
-- had never displayed any signs of having a heart problem before last month,
said his mother, Irene Donley-Kimble, an obstetrician-gynecologist.
She said Will was "active in almost every sport" while growing up. He
competed on a youth swim team and was a Boy Scout. He played basketball and
football at San Bernardino Pacific High.
"William never complained of any kind of problem," Donley-Kimble said. "He's
a quiet kid, but when he's not feeling well, he lets you know."
Kimble passed a physical before he was cleared to play for Pepperdine, but
John Shearer, the school's head trainer, said a heart condition such as the one
diagnosed in Kimble would not be detected by general health screening unless a
more telling sign, such as a heart murmur, were present.
"You would need an echocardiogram," said Shearer, referring to the procedure
of examining the heart through ultrasound.
A key reserve for Pepperdine last season, Kimble became a starter and played
without incident in the Waves' season-opening loss at Bradley on Nov. 22.
He was participating in a rigorous full-court press drill at practice the
morning of Nov. 26 when he started to feel lightheaded. He went to sit down on
the base of a basket at Firestone Fieldhouse on the Pepperdine campus in Malibu.
"Next thing you know, I was out," Kimble said.
Teammates noticed him lying face down on the court. He quickly regained
consciousness. A team manager summoned Shearer.
"I was only out five or 10 seconds," Kimble said. "Then, after that, I just
felt fine."
Shearer asked Kimble a series of general health questions. Had he skipped
breakfast that morning? Had he suffered a recent head injury? Was he taking any
medication? When Kimble's answers failed to provide any clues, Shearer decided
to hold Kimble out of the rest of practice.
Shearer called Dr. Gary Green, the team physician, who arranged to have
Kimble evaluated by a cardiologist.
Kimble drove himself to UCLA Medical Center, where he underwent a battery of
tests, including an echocardiogram that detected hypertrophic obstructive
cardiomyopathy, a condition characterized by thickened tissue of the heart
muscle that can interfere with the movement of blood as it is pumped from the
left ventricle.
During strenuous exercise, "not enough blood can get to other areas of the
body, including the brain, which is probably why he passed out," Donley-Kimble
said.
Kimble said the cardiologist (Dr. Antoine Hage) who treated him told him he
"should never exercise again." Donley-Kimble said Hage indicated that Kimble
could perform normal physical activities but would have to undergo further
testing and might need to take medication. Hage could not be reached for
comment.
According to the American Heart Assn., 36% of young athletes who suffer
sudden cardiac death have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can cause fatal
arrhythmias.
Athletes have gone to great lengths to prolong their careers despite health
concerns. Gathers had an irregular heartbeat that doctors were trying to control
with medication. He needed further testing to find the cause of the arrhythmia,
but he did not want to do it until after the basketball season.
Devard Darling tried unsuccessfully to play football for several universities
after he was found to have the same sickle-cell trait that was found in his
twin, Devaughn, who died after collapsing during a workout in February 2001,
when they were freshmen at Florida State. Devard finally transferred to
Washington State, where he is a sophomore wide receiver, after exhaustive
medical tests cleared him for competition.
Donley-Kimble said that although the family is seeking a second medical
opinion, they will not press for her son to play basketball if results confirm
the initial tests. Kimble has scheduled an evaluation and consultation Wednesday
with Dr. Robert Siegel, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
"We're not going to press William or have him play again if there's anything
that shows [his condition] could possibly cause sudden death," Donley-Kimble
said.
The day after Kimble's heart condition was diagnosed, Pepperdine Coach Paul
Westphal broke the news to the team. Westphal has helped ease Kimble's
transition from player to spectator by allowing him to travel with the team and
sit on the bench.
After Westphal spoke, Kimble addressed his teammates.
What he told them is, "Take nothing for granted and appreciate everything
that they've got," Kimble said. "Because you could lose everything in one
second.
"Everything that you work for could be gone like that."
*
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Pepperdine's Will Kimble averaged 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds a game as a
reserve on last season's 22-9 team. He started the Waves' first game this season
before being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
* Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy results in the abnormal growth of the heart
muscle cells. The wall between the heart chambers, known as the septum, may
become so thickened that it blocks the flow of blood through the left ventricle.
In most instances, there are no warning signs of the condition, which is most
often diagnosed in young athletes.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO: NO SIGN OF PROBLEM: Will Kimble started for Pepperdine this year
until he passed out in practice Nov. 26. PHOTOGRAPHER: Alexander Gallardo Los
Angeles Times PHOTO: HOPING: Will Kimble (52), diagnosed with hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy, is awaiting a second medical opinion. PHOTOGRAPHER: Alexander
Gallardo Los Angeles Times
LOAD-DATE: December 10, 2002
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: To Play, or Not]
Author: Allen Bates (---.ph.ph.cox.net)
Date: 12-12-02 20:19
A note to let you all know that Coach Westphal wrote this afternoon to say that he would pass the website information on to Will's family.
-ab
Author: Tim Stewart (12.168.192.---)
Date: 12-09-02 04:31
Copyright 2002 The Press Enterprise Co.
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE (RIVERSIDE, CA.)
December 6, 2002, Friday
SECTION: SPORTS; Pg. C01
LENGTH: 520 words
HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer
BYLINE: ANDREW BAGGARLY; THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
BODY:
The mother of basketball player Will Kimble said Pepperdine
officials were aware of evidence her son had a pre-existing
heart condition before the junior center collapsed and lost
consciousness during practice Nov. 26.
Following the incident, Kimble was diagnosed with hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy, a life-threatening condition that involves an
abnormal growth of the heart muscle.
His mother, Dr. Irene Donley-Kimble, said her son had never
suffered chest pains, shortness of breath, or any other signs of
heart problems. The only hint of a potentially serious ailment
came more than two years ago, when a heart murmur was detected
in a routine physical exam administered to Kimble upon his
enrollment at Pepperdine. Additional tests, including a stress
echocardiogram, came back normal and Kimble was cleared to play.
Last week, a stress echocardiogram revealed the condition, which
often has no advance warning signs and has resulted in the
sudden fatality of young athletes.
"We're still reeling from the shock," said Donley-Kimble. "The
diagnosis was totally unexpected. We'll get another opinion and
go from there. We're not going to count out basketball
altogether at this time."
Donley-Kimble, said her son would undergo tests Wednesday at
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Kimble, a graduate of San Bernardino Pacific High School, had
told Pepperdine officials and teammates that he did not intend
to play basketball again. But Donley-Kimble said the family was
holding out hope the diagnosis might change, and that her son
might be able to return to the court.
"The same test came back clean two years ago," she said. "There
was no reason then to think it was a serious problem. . . . The
heart is like any other muscle -- it gets bigger when you work
it. William was working excessively hard. It's difficult to say
how much extra heart tissue had built up. That's why it's
important to get another opinion."
If the second opinion confirms the original diagnosis,
Donley-Kimble said that her son would "understand what that
means" and would give up basketball.
Pepperdine athletic director Dr. John Watson said the university
would object if Kimble lobbied to return to the team and play
with the condition.
"It would be my responsibility not to allow that to happen,"
Watson said. "If there is evidence that the diagnosis is incorrect,
we will take a thorough look at it. But if it's correct, he will
not play basketball for this university. We will not put him in
harm's way."
Watson said the school intends to honor its four-year
scholarship commitment to Kimble, a bright student who is making
progress toward a degree in advertising.
"Obviously, his career goals have changed drastically," Watson
said. "We talked to him about our support and how we want to keep
him in school and see him through to his degree."
Kimble's basketball career was beginning to emerge. He won the
starting center position after two years in a reserve role, and
was expected to make an impact with his rebounding and
shot-blocking abilities.
LOAD-DATE: December 6, 2002
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Sarah B. Board Moderator (12.144.99.---)
Date: 12-09-02 06:45
It sounds like his parents are pushing for playing and he is not. Just my read on this one. Hopefully his mom will back off ----hey, Lisa, can you send her the packet?
S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Reenie Smith (---.snbrca.adelphia.net)
Date: 12-09-02 07:42
Sarah,
I live near these guys and looked the phone # up in the book. His mom is an MD. I was thinking about calling them to suggest they see someone Lisa recommended to me for my husband, but now I'm not sure if I should or not. What do you think?
Reenie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Sarah B. Board Moderator (12.144.99.---)
Date: 12-09-02 08:06
Dear Reenie,
I would call Lisa and see what she suggests. Tough call on this one, but I think reaching out is a good idea.
S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Allen Bates (---.motorola.com)
Date: 12-09-02 11:48
I just wrote an email to Paul Westphal, Pepperdine coach, and gave him the hcma website to pass on to Will and the family
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: Reeling Kimble seeks answer]
Author: Sarah B. Board Moderator (12.144.99.---)
Date: 12-09-02 12:11
Thanks, Allen, that was a great idea.
S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[HEADLINE: To Play, or Not]
Author: Tim Stewart (12.168.192.---)
Date: 12-10-02 04:16
Copyright 2002 The Times Mirror Company; Los Angeles Times
All Rights Reserved
Los Angeles Times
December 10, 2002 Tuesday Home Edition
SECTION: Sports; Part 4; Page 1; Sports Desk
LENGTH: 1326 words
HEADLINE: To Play, or Not;
Pepperdine calls Kimble's condition career-ending, butathlete isn't so sure
BYLINE: Rob Fernas, Times Staff Writer
BODY:
Will Kimble says he's praying for a miracle, and that's what it might take
for the Pepperdine junior to play college basketball again.
Kimble was the starting center for the Waves until he passed out at practice
Nov. 26 and was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition
that can cause sudden death. Kimble and his family are hoping the diagnosis was
incorrect and have scheduled an evaluation by another cardiologist this week.
Pepperdine coaches hope Kimble will be cleared to rejoin the team, which has
struggled without the low-post presence of the 6-foot-10, 230-pounder.
But the university is adhering to a more conservative stance, releasing a
statement that Kimble has a "career-ending" condition. Though Kimble reportedly
approved the release, he indicated he isn't ready to call it a career at age 20.
"I'm real optimistic," he said of his chances of playing again. "It's just a
gut feeling."
John Watson, Pepperdine athletic director, said the medical evidence would
have to be conclusive for the school to allow Kimble back on the court.
"If it turns out that this initial diagnosis was incorrect -- invalidated --
then obviously we'll review everything," Watson said. "But based on what we've
been told with the preliminary diagnosis, this is the prudent action for Will.
"We do not want to put him in harm's way, nor do we want a young person's
enthusiasm to place him in danger."
Watson's caution is understandable. He was at Loyola Marymount's Gersten
Pavilion the night of March 4, 1990, when Loyola's Hank Gathers collapsed during
a basketball game and later died of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart.
Boston Celtic star Reggie Lewis died of the same condition.
Loyola's insurance carriers eventually paid a settlement of $1.4 million to
Gathers' family.
Another $1 million was paid on behalf of Vernon Hattori, the cardiologist who
had treated Gathers for his heart condition and cleared him to play.
Watson acknowledged that Kimble's situation reminds him of Gathers', but said
that has not influenced the way Pepperdine is handling the matter.
"It's in my mind, but it's not the overriding concern," Watson said. "Nor is
the liability issue an overriding concern. It's what's right for Will Kimble."
And if Kimble receives a second medical opinion that contradicts the initial
diagnosis, clearing him to play?
"I'm not sure how we would resolve it, other than having long discussions
with the family and with Will," Watson said.
"We're not talking about a kid who might feel pain with an arthritic knee the
rest of his life. We're talking about life and death as a potential."
Kimble -- no relation to Bo Kimble, Gathers' high-profile teammate at Loyola
-- had never displayed any signs of having a heart problem before last month,
said his mother, Irene Donley-Kimble, an obstetrician-gynecologist.
She said Will was "active in almost every sport" while growing up. He
competed on a youth swim team and was a Boy Scout. He played basketball and
football at San Bernardino Pacific High.
"William never complained of any kind of problem," Donley-Kimble said. "He's
a quiet kid, but when he's not feeling well, he lets you know."
Kimble passed a physical before he was cleared to play for Pepperdine, but
John Shearer, the school's head trainer, said a heart condition such as the one
diagnosed in Kimble would not be detected by general health screening unless a
more telling sign, such as a heart murmur, were present.
"You would need an echocardiogram," said Shearer, referring to the procedure
of examining the heart through ultrasound.
A key reserve for Pepperdine last season, Kimble became a starter and played
without incident in the Waves' season-opening loss at Bradley on Nov. 22.
He was participating in a rigorous full-court press drill at practice the
morning of Nov. 26 when he started to feel lightheaded. He went to sit down on
the base of a basket at Firestone Fieldhouse on the Pepperdine campus in Malibu.
"Next thing you know, I was out," Kimble said.
Teammates noticed him lying face down on the court. He quickly regained
consciousness. A team manager summoned Shearer.
"I was only out five or 10 seconds," Kimble said. "Then, after that, I just
felt fine."
Shearer asked Kimble a series of general health questions. Had he skipped
breakfast that morning? Had he suffered a recent head injury? Was he taking any
medication? When Kimble's answers failed to provide any clues, Shearer decided
to hold Kimble out of the rest of practice.
Shearer called Dr. Gary Green, the team physician, who arranged to have
Kimble evaluated by a cardiologist.
Kimble drove himself to UCLA Medical Center, where he underwent a battery of
tests, including an echocardiogram that detected hypertrophic obstructive
cardiomyopathy, a condition characterized by thickened tissue of the heart
muscle that can interfere with the movement of blood as it is pumped from the
left ventricle.
During strenuous exercise, "not enough blood can get to other areas of the
body, including the brain, which is probably why he passed out," Donley-Kimble
said.
Kimble said the cardiologist (Dr. Antoine Hage) who treated him told him he
"should never exercise again." Donley-Kimble said Hage indicated that Kimble
could perform normal physical activities but would have to undergo further
testing and might need to take medication. Hage could not be reached for
comment.
According to the American Heart Assn., 36% of young athletes who suffer
sudden cardiac death have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which can cause fatal
arrhythmias.
Athletes have gone to great lengths to prolong their careers despite health
concerns. Gathers had an irregular heartbeat that doctors were trying to control
with medication. He needed further testing to find the cause of the arrhythmia,
but he did not want to do it until after the basketball season.
Devard Darling tried unsuccessfully to play football for several universities
after he was found to have the same sickle-cell trait that was found in his
twin, Devaughn, who died after collapsing during a workout in February 2001,
when they were freshmen at Florida State. Devard finally transferred to
Washington State, where he is a sophomore wide receiver, after exhaustive
medical tests cleared him for competition.
Donley-Kimble said that although the family is seeking a second medical
opinion, they will not press for her son to play basketball if results confirm
the initial tests. Kimble has scheduled an evaluation and consultation Wednesday
with Dr. Robert Siegel, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
"We're not going to press William or have him play again if there's anything
that shows [his condition] could possibly cause sudden death," Donley-Kimble
said.
The day after Kimble's heart condition was diagnosed, Pepperdine Coach Paul
Westphal broke the news to the team. Westphal has helped ease Kimble's
transition from player to spectator by allowing him to travel with the team and
sit on the bench.
After Westphal spoke, Kimble addressed his teammates.
What he told them is, "Take nothing for granted and appreciate everything
that they've got," Kimble said. "Because you could lose everything in one
second.
"Everything that you work for could be gone like that."
*
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Pepperdine's Will Kimble averaged 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds a game as a
reserve on last season's 22-9 team. He started the Waves' first game this season
before being diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
* Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy results in the abnormal growth of the heart
muscle cells. The wall between the heart chambers, known as the septum, may
become so thickened that it blocks the flow of blood through the left ventricle.
In most instances, there are no warning signs of the condition, which is most
often diagnosed in young athletes.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO: NO SIGN OF PROBLEM: Will Kimble started for Pepperdine this year
until he passed out in practice Nov. 26. PHOTOGRAPHER: Alexander Gallardo Los
Angeles Times PHOTO: HOPING: Will Kimble (52), diagnosed with hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy, is awaiting a second medical opinion. PHOTOGRAPHER: Alexander
Gallardo Los Angeles Times
LOAD-DATE: December 10, 2002
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Re: HEADLINE: To Play, or Not]
Author: Allen Bates (---.ph.ph.cox.net)
Date: 12-12-02 20:19
A note to let you all know that Coach Westphal wrote this afternoon to say that he would pass the website information on to Will's family.
-ab